Palazzo della Rovere is one of Savona’s great Renaissance reminders, tied to the same family that produced popes Sixtus IV and Julius II. Its scale feels almost oversized for the modern city, which is exactly the point: Savona once had ambitions far beyond being a ferry and cruise port.
The building has had a complicated life, and access can vary, but it is worth seeking out from the outside while walking the centre. Its presence helps connect the cathedral quarter with the broader story of Savona’s papal and aristocratic past.